22 January 2016 | Callum Dent
David Willey and Michael Carberry could not keep Perth Scorchers’ Big Bash League defence alive as Luke Wright and Kevin Pietersen’s Melbourne Stars ended their last-four hoodoo at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Pietersen was named man of the match after his 62 off just 36 balls helped the Stars, who have exited in the semis in the last four years, chase 140 and set up a final with Sydney Thunder on Sunday.
Willey had given Perth brief hope with the early dismissal of fellow Englishman Wright for seven but it was not to be as the Scorchers’ chances of a third consecutive BBL title ended.
Willey, with 10 wickets at an average of 25.50 in the competition, recorded figures of 1-22 from three overs ahead of flying to South Africa for England’s limited-overs series.
The Scorchers were restricted to 139 for seven after losing the toss, Carberry hitting two fours in making 13 from 12 balls at number three.
Source: ECB